jamiemcginlay
Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow
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Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:03 pm Post subject: Major John Somerled Thorpe, Ardbreknish |
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Major John Somerled Thorpe
Location: Ardbreknish, Argyle. At front of Episcopal Church on north side of the B840 which runs down the South side of Loch Awe.
CWGC ENTRY:
Name: THORPE, JOHN SOMERLED
Initials: J S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Major
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 44
Date of Death: 15/09/1916
Awards: M C
Additional information: Husband of Elizabeth Cecilia Thorpe, of "Coombelands," Pullborough, Sussex.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Q. 39.
Cemetery: CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY
INSCRIPTION READS:
WEST FACE:
HE WHOM THIS MONUMENT
COMMEMORATES WAS
NUMBERED AMONG THOSE
WHO AT THE CALL OF KING
AND COUNTRY LEFT ALL
THAT WAS DEAR TO THEM
ENDURED HARDNESS
FACED DANGER AND
FINALLY PASSED OUT
OF THE SIGHT OF MEN
BY THE PATH OF DUTY
AND SELF SACRIFICE
GIVING UP THEIR OWN
LIVES THAT OTHERS
MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM
LET THOSE WHO COME
AFTER SEE TO IT THAT HIS
NAME BE NOT FORGOTTEN
EAST FACE:
SANS PEUR ET SANS REPROCHE?
GREATER LOSS HATH NO MAN
THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY
DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS
TO THE GLORY
OF GOD AND IN LOVING
MEMORY OF MY HUSBAND
JOHN SOMERLED THORPE
MC MAJOR SCOTS GUARDS
OF CODDINGTON HALL
THE COUNTY OF NOTTS
AND ARDBRECKNISH
JOINED SCOTS GUARDS 1893
SERVED THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR
REJOINED HIS
OLD REGIMENT 1914
WAS TWICE WOUNDED
KILLED IN THE SOMME BATTLE WHILE TEMPORARILY
COMMANDING 2ND BATTN SCOTS GUARDS
ON SEPTEMBER 16TH 1916 AGED 43
MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES
WAS AWARDED MILITARY CROSS
FOR GALLANTRY AND COOLNESS IN COLLECTING
ISOLATED GROUPS OF MEN AT LOOS & HOLDING
A DEFENCE POSITION FOR
THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS UNTIL RELIEVED
HIS BODY LIES IN THE MILITARY
CEMETERY AT CARNOY
The inscription on the East side is very worn and was difficult to read during my visit. However from what I could definitely read it appears to be identical to the inscription on the family's memorial in Coddington Church and I have used this to complete the above transcription but there may be slight differences. The Coddington Church memorial can be seen here:
http://www.coddington.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=2
and here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/architec/355905362/ |
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